Don't look now, but the Indians are in the thick of the Wild Card race once again! In this MLB News and Notes segment, the IBI's Andrew Zajac will be giving occasional reports on the latest news and rumors throughout the MLB. Today's piece focuses on the Cubs promoting one of their top prospects, injury updates on Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher, players who have been placed on revocable waivers, and more.

Time is running out for Zach McAllister and the Indians. Not only time on this season, but next season as well. The IBI's Tony Lastoria talks about how the Indians are in almost the same situation with McAllister now as they were this time last year with Carlos Carrasco. He also talks about the Cabrera and Masterson trades, takes a look at the 2015 Indians roster and their needs, ponders a potential DL assignment for Nick Swisher, and more.

Is it because of the calming influence of Terry Francona and the other leaders in the clubhouse? Is it because the race for the final AL wild card spot is full of flawed teams? Or is it just a complete luck of the draw? Somehow, this ball club, with all its imperfections, now has only three games sitting between them and a playoff berth. Join the IBI's Jake Dungan as he discusses the highlights of Sunday's walk-off win.

With Sunday's sweep, the Indians find themselves right back in the Wildcard race. In this MLB News and Notes segment, I will be giving occasional reports on the latest news and rumors throughout the MLB. Today's piece focuses on the unfortunate news for Paul Goldschmidt, the Padres closing in on their new GM, and more.

It started rough, eased up late and ended so smooth. Operating in extra innings against the Rangers knotted in a 3-3 tie, Cleveland's favorite doctor came up and saved the life of the game. On a 3-2 pitch from Texas rookie Phil Klein in the bottom of the 12th, Michael Brantley lined a walk-off solo homer into the visitors bullpen to give the Indians a 4-3 victory Sunday. Join IBI Tribe beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps the series sweep from the ballpark.

Not even Jim Thome envisioned a day like this. For him, being immortalized at the top of Indians record books and among some of the game's greats was an accomplishment already. Playing 22 years in the big leagues, 12 of them with the Tribe, he first became a household name in Cleveland during the mid-90s, and soon, an iconic baseball legend across the country. Join IBI Indians beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps a memorable day for Thome during his statue unveil ceremony.

On a night where Jim Thome was immortalized in bronze, the Cleveland and Texas bats participated in an evening of silence, as the Cleveland Indians found their way back to .500, defeating the Rangers, 2-0. The performance of T.J. House - while brief, proved to be the defining performance of the night. The IBI's John Grimm breaks down T.J. House by presenting another lefty breakout pitcher as a perfect-world projection: the Houston Astros' Dallas Keuchel.

Two runs on five hits. Talk about a unique way for the current Indians team to honor Jim Thome's No. 25. Well, maybe not exactly, but that would be all the runs and hits the Tribe offense needed Saturday. A two run sixth inning was enough for Cleveland to shutout the Rangers, 2-0 to win their second straight against Texas. Join IBI Tribe beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps the win from the ballpark.

Following up on a surprising two-year trend of beating the Texas Rangers, the Cleveland Indians bounced back from three straight series opener losses with a decisive 12-2 victory over Texas. Taking the hill for Cleveland was Danny Salazar, who threw six innings with only one unearned run scoring. The IBI's John Grimm examine's Salazar's performance, the pitcher's success on Friday, why such success was unlikely, and the positive regression experienced by the Dominican right-hander.

All it takes is a flip of the calendar. With just two months of the regular season remaining on the schedule, the Tribe offense flipped the switch on high to jump-start an important stretch of baseball in August and September that lie ahead. The club exploded for a dozen runs on 16 hits to rout Texas in the series opener, 12-2. Join IBI Indians beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps the win from the ballpark.

The Indians got off to a hot start to open up the month of August. Can they keep it rolling on Saturday? In this MLB News and Notes segment, the IBI's Andrew Zajac will be giving occasional reports on the latest news and rumors throughout the MLB. Today's piece focuses on Cliff Lee's latest injury, an embattled former closer given his walking papers, a possible target for the Red Sox in the offseason, and more.

The Cleveland Indians today announced that they have recalled outfielder Tyler Holt from Triple-A Columbus and designated right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister for assignment for the purpose of optional assignment to Columbus.

With the fate of their season continuing to hang precariously in the balance, the Tribe entered the eighth inning of Thursday's rubber match against the Mariners with a 5-4 lead. Unfortunately, the battle was won by Mike Zunino as he lined a 2-0 cutter from Bryan Shaw over the left field wall for a two-run homer as Seattle emerged victorious taking two out of three in the series. Join the IBI's Jake Dungan as he gives his thoughts on the loss.

As teams bolstered their rosters across the country Thursday, the Indians were busy subtracting players from their big league team, not adding them. It showed on the field in the rubber match with Seattle. Leading Seattle 5-4 in the eighth, right-hander Bryan Shaw served up what became the game-winning homer to Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, as the Mariners edged Cleveland, 6-5. Join IBI Tribe beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps the loss from the ballpark.

It's officially August and the trading deadline has come and gone. Will the focus for the Indians continue to be to make the playoffs? In this MLB News and Notes segment, the IBI's Andrew Zajac will be giving occasional reports on the latest news and rumors throughout the MLB. Today's piece focuses on the big trades that occurred at the trading deadline, two injury updates on Tribe players, Cliff Lee's injury on Thursday, and more.

Asdrubal Cabrera was a guy who everyone knew would be traded. His expiring deal and the Indians depth at shortstop made it pretty clear he would end the season with another team. Today he was dealt to the Washington Nationals in exchange for infielder Zach Walters. The IBI's Jeff Ellis provides his flash thoughts on the deal...

The Cleveland Indians completed a trade with the Washington Nationals on Thursday just an hour before the trade deadline sending shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to the Nationals in exchange for shortstop Zach Walters.

The big news out of Cleveland is that Justin Masterson has been traded. While that topic took center stage in the afternoon, the duel between Felix Hernandez and Corey Kluber highlighted the evening. Join Michael Goodman as he gives his Second Thoughts on the busy day that was Wednesday, analyzing the trade that dominated the afternoon and the pitching matchup that dominated the night.

The Indians traded their ace out of town Wednesday, but it was the Tribe's true ace they held hidden up their sleeve. Corey Kluber is that true ace, and he was paired up against the game's best king in the Mariners starter Felix Hernandez. Even in this poker game, the ace defeated the king and took home the jackpot, as Cleveland blanked Seattle, 2-0 on Kluber's complete game shutout. Join IBI Tribe beat reporter Jim Berdysz as he recaps the game from the ballpark.

Corey Kluber continues his solid season and proves once again why he is the ace of the Tribe. Justin Masterson was originally seen as the top dog in the rotation but his struggles throughout the season were well documented and it ultimately led to him being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals earlier today. Check out Jay Frierson's storylines to see more big news from around the league.

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!